This essay aims to focus on a stress model developed by Karasek (1979), known as the Job Demand Control model. The key elements of this model will be examined whilst also evaluating the models theoretical foundation and practicality in the workplace envir

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A Model of Stress - The Job Demand Control Model of Stress

The Health and Safety Executive define workplace stress as "the adverse reaction people have to excessive pressure or other types of demand placed on them". Research has shown a vast number of factors can contribute to workplace stress such as an extreme work environment, negative workload and lack of independence just to name a few. This essay aims to focus on a stress model developed by Karasek (1979), known as the Job Demand Control model. The key elements of this model will be examined whilst also evaluating the models theoretical foundation and practicality in the workplace environment.

The job demand control model (Karasek, 1979) stipulates workplace stress results from the demands of an individual's job whilst also considering the amount of control (decision latitude) the individual possesses over their responsibilities in the workplace. According to the model, job demands refer to the psychological stressors present in the workplace which are classified in relation to two distinct criteria; workload and intellectual requests of the job. These include issues involving time pressures, contradictory demands, pace of the workday, workload, levels of concentration necessary and the effects of